exploring the intersections of sustainability, style & social change

It’s about time getting dressed in the morning didn’t force us to think about the questionable conditions under which our clothes were made.

It’s about time our drive for newer, cheaper, faster was replaced by a respect for quality and craft.

It’s about time that workers in the garment industry had access to basic human rights: safe working conditions, gender equality, a living wage.

It’s about time we eliminated toxins, saved water, and simplified supply chains.

It’s about time we saw clothing as less disposable and more as an investment.

It’s about time brands became responsible.

It’s about time consumers became conscious.

It’s about time for change.

In the past few months, I’ve joined a movement to help create that change. We’re calling it a Fashion Revolution, and it’s happening on April 24, 2014 — the first anniversary of the tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh.

Fashion Revolution Day is an opportunity to celebrate fashion as a positive influence, raise awareness of the fashion industry’s most pressing issues and show that change is possible. We intend to rally fast fashion, luxury, innovators, media, the public, activists, makers, wearers — and everyone in between.

Fashion Revolution Day is not about naming and shaming. Rather, it’s an opportunity to imagine what’s possible if stakeholders from across the apparel industry — consumers included — committed to creating positive change. Read More

As incandescent light bulbs are being phased out, compact fluorescent light bulbs are stepping in to take their place. But are CFLs really the most environmentally-friendly alternative?

Thomas Edison may have been on to something when he invented and popularized the modern incandescent light bulb in 1878. But 135 years later, the world is in desperate need of an environmentally-friendly upgrade. Enter, the compact fluorescent light bulb, or CFL.

CFLs have been on the market since the 1980s, but they didn’t enter the mainstream until President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which initiated the gradual phase-out of incandescent light bulbs on the U.S. market. The 100-watt bulb was discontinued in 2011, followed by the 75-watt bulb earlier this year. The 60- and 40-watt bulbs are slated to disappear in January 2014.

There’s a common misperception that living sustainably is a luxury reserved for the rich … But believe it or not, some sustainable living actions can actually save you money, as well as improve your quality of life.

If you don’t shop at Uniqlo, you will soon. The Japanese retailer has already captivated urban centers like New York and San Francisco with ambitious plans to expand to 1,000 U.S. stores in the next decade.

Uniqlo’s specialty is cheap but quality basics, presented in a rainbow of the season’s trendiest colors. But despite the chain’s quick-moving inventory and bargain basement prices, Uniqlo has somehow managed to escape the fast fashion stigma slapped on competitors like H&M, Forever 21, Zara, and Old Navy. This week’s Behind The Label looks at why. Read More

As the days get cooler and the air gets more brisk, it’s time to think about adjusting your beauty routine to fit the change in seasons. For me, that means heavy moisturizing. Here’s a peek at what I’ve been using these days:

This heavy-duty body butter is dense enough to protect against winter’s rougher days. Made from a blend of certified USDA-organic ingredients, including shea butter and sunflower, coconut, and olive oils, Nourish products are cruelty-free and made in the U.S.A. Plus, the $9.99 price tag is difficult to beat. Read More

There is hope that [the Bangladesh Rana Plaza] tragedy will force fashion brands to insist on better conditions and stricter regulations in the factories where they do business. And there is reason to believe that these campaigns will be successful.

Every summer for the past decade, the media has issued staunch advisories reminding consumers to wear sunscreen. But this year, their tone has changed. Studies are showing that not only are many sunscreens filled with potentially harmful chemicals, but also that sunscreen wearers can actually be more susceptible to dangerous skin cancer strains like melanoma. Too much time in the sun can increase the risk of damage, but too littlecan lead to vitamin D deficiencies. What gives? This week’s Behind The Label attempts to explain the current debate around sunscreen, just in time for Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Read More

Take one versatile, figure-flattering, work-appropriate — but still feminine — silhouette. Add a healthy dose of GOTS-certified organic cotton. Manufacture it with skilled tailors in New York City. And voila: the perfect power dress for any occasion.

Inspired by the ’50s and ’60s aesthetic of her Grandma Elsa, Swedish founder Maja Svensson developed the Elsa Dress while working in corporate Manhattan.

“The primary reason I began designing clothing was that I saw a lack of conservative, yet stylish and feminine business wear for the career woman who didn’t want to look like a man at work,” Maja told me.

The Elsa Dress certainly bucks that trend, and it has earned legions of “Women In Elsa” fans. And now, the Elsa is available in a sleeveless version, just in time for the change of seasons. Each dress is custom-fit and made-to-order, with “Friday Fitting” events at local venues across the city, or private fittings at your home or office. I just had a private fitting and ordered one of each — the Original in Sweet Potato and the Sleeveless in Black. I couldn’t be more excited to rock them this summer.